GM’s No. 2 PR executive leaves to join United Airlines

Tony Cervone, a top spokesman for General Motors as it battled bankruptcy rumors and won U.S. rescue loans, is leaving the automaker.
Cervone, 46, will join UAL Corp., parent of United Airlines, as chief communications officer and senior vice president, United said in a statement on Wednesday.
GM does not have an immediate announcement on Cervones successor, spokesman Tom Wilkinson said.
Cervone joined GM from DaimlerChrysler AG in 1999. He returned briefly to DaimlerChrysler in August 2000 before rejoining GM less than a year later.
Cervones most recent title was vice president of global strategy and integration. He was second in command for GMs global public relations department and was considered a candidate to replace PR chief Steve Harris when Harris retires.
GM averted bankruptcy when President George W. Bush granted the automaker $13.4 billion in federal loans in December. GM has received $9.4 billion so far. The White House stepped in after two rounds of hearings resulted in a Senate rejection of aid.
At UAL, Cervone will oversee internal and external communications, media and public relations, crisis communications and partnership communications.

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Lexus Teases 2012 GS Ahead Of Pebble Beach Debut

Lexus will reveal the all-new GS 350 mid-size luxury sport sedan on Thursday, August 18th in conjunction with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The fourth-generation GS has been completely redesigned, inside and out, and will feature the brand's new design philosophy, with styling cues such as a distinctive new front grille, that will soon be seen on all future Lexus vehicles. The new GS will also lead the rest of the Lexus lineup in an entirely new direction of driving dynamics.

"Today, buyers in the mid-size luxury segment want a more engaging driving experience, styling that makes a statement, and a roomier interior package," said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. "With the all-new GS, we're giving them what they asked for, and more."

The Lexus press conference will take place on Thursday, August 18th at 4:15 p.m. PDT at Parc du Concours near The Lodge at Pebble Beach. The press conference will also be broadcast live online and archived at http://www.LexusNewsroom.com.

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July, Honda 2165 Record Unit Sales

The biggest contributor is the new Honda Jazz which was launched on May 19.

VivaNews-- In June, PT Honda Prospect Motor posted sales of 2165 units throughout Indonesia. The biggest contributor is the new Honda Jazz was launched on 19 May, with sales of 1,500 units. Until now, Honda has sold over 8871 units throughout Indonesia and achieved a market share of 31 percent in the hatchback class.

"With the level of production is gradually we get even, we believe that Honda's sales continue to rise," said Director of Marketing and post-sale Honda Indonesia Jonfis Fandy in a written statement, Tuesday, July 12, 2011.

In the SUV class, the Honda CR-V has been collected so far this year sales of 5338 units with a market share of 24 percent. New CR-V sales in June were 399 units, an increase compared to the previous month that only 45 units.

In the MPV class, sales of Honda Freed from January to June 4652 and the unit has achieved 11 percent market share. Honda Freed own sales reached 184 units.

While the premium MPV class, All New Honda Odyssey has sold over 150 units this year, with additional sales on June 9 units.

In the sedan segment, the All New Honda City recorded sales of 32 units. Until now, the All New Honda City has achieved sales of 1291 units throughout Indonesia with a market share of 32 percent in the mini-class sedan (nontaksi).

New Honda Civic sold over 36 units in June. With these figures, the Honda Civic has sold over 613 units and 37 percent market share.

Meanwhile, in June alone, the New Full Size Honda Accord has been sold 5 units, a market share of 22 percent in the medium class sedan. Thus, this premium sedan Honda has sold over 658 units throughout Indonesia.

In total, in the first half of this year, Honda has recorded sales of 21,573 units in all parts of Indonesia, with a market share of 5.2 percent. (eh)

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Porsche Design Create Sisha

Stuttgart - Each manufacturer of luxury cars have some merchandise as supporters of each product. Porsche chose to create a tool Sisha smoking as part of World Luxury Collection brand.

Shisha Porsche Design combines high quality materials such as aluminum, stainless steel and glass with a unique design approach. Porsce trying to maintain the purity of style.

Shisha Porsche made ​​in Germany by 55 centimeters high. A perfect result on the aluminum which is equipped with a long flexible tube made ​​of a material TecFlex. This material is also used for stationery classic Porsche.

The Porsche Design World Collection is dedicated to a global community and consisted of a number of products designed specifically. Shisha addition, there are a variety of other unique items sepetrti chopsticks, tea cups and soup as well as several other items seperto jackets, polo shirts and silk scarves.

Shisha Porsche will go on sale in the Porsche Design stores worldwide Porsche Design, starting late July.

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Ford exec team's visits to suppliers are paying off

Continental AG displayed a lane-departure warning system for a Ford technology team. The system was adopted for the 2012 European Focus. Luxury cars have the feature, but Ford's system is inexpensive enough for compact cars.

 

Ford Motor Co.'s purchasing operation says special steps aimed at attracting cutting-edge technology from suppliers are getting results.
This year, a team of high-level Ford purchasing and engineering executives is visiting nine key suppliers for daylong reviews of their newest technology. A Ford team generally visits key suppliers every two or three years in an effort dubbed the Executive Business and Technology Review.
When the 2012 European Focus was in development, Continental AG displayed a lane-departure warning system that Ford adopted for the car. Various luxury cars have the feature, but Ford's system is of interest because it's inexpensive enough for compact cars.
A video camera mounted in front of the rearview mirror monitors road markings to ensure the vehicle stays in its lane. The system alerts the driver if the vehicle drifts into another lane by vibrating the steering wheel.
Tony Brown, Ford's group vice president of global purchasing, established the program five years ago to encourage suppliers to show Ford their best products. To speed decision-making, he paired key purchasing executives with their counterparts in Ford engineering.
One such purchasing executive is Birgit Behrendt, Ford's executive director of global programs. Behrendt's job is to ensure that Ford's purchasing operation coordinates with the company's product development unit.
"We were the last to be offered new technology because we struggled to get it out into the market," Behrendt said in an interview with Automotive News. "Suppliers don't make any money developing a product. They only get a return when we put it on a vehicle."
So Ford formed a team of engineers and purchasing executives to visit a different group of key suppliers every year. In addition to Behrendt, key team members include:
• Burt Jordan, executive director of global vehicle and powertrain purchasing
•  Joe Bakaj, vice president of global powertrain engineering
•  Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer
•  Barb Samardzich, vice president of global product programs
•  Raj Nair, vice president of engineering for global product development
Ford's high-powered group "can make an on-the-spot decision" with suppliers, Behrendt said. "Either it's something we want to look at, and please talk to our engineers. Or we might say that frankly it's not for us, so that nobody wastes effort on things that won't be used by Ford."
Primary participants are 102 suppliers in Ford's Aligned Business Framework, a program that steers long-term contracts to key global suppliers.
Ford says its cultivation of suppliers is moving good technology into vehicles. "A lot of what you see on the Focus came from our technology reviews two or three years ago," Behrendt says.
But Ford still has a ways to go. According to the 2011 Henke report, which asks suppliers to rate the purchasing operations of six North American automakers, the suppliers are most willing to share new technology with Toyota and Honda.
On the other hand, Ford scored better than Nissan, General Motors and Chrysler on that survey item.
Although Ford remains midpack on suppliers' willingness to share new technology, Ford's effort to globalize its platforms gives it a powerful lure for suppliers.
High production volumes let Ford and its suppliers cut the cost of innovations. "We are looking at the democratization of technology," Behrendt said. "We bring it to the volume market."

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Nissan Skyline violent Shown

BANDUNG - His love in the world of motorsport, especially drifting makes Yung Yung willing to totally change his favorite car the Nissan Skyline BNR. The car was created as a sports car is increasingly characterized by a change in full racing. 

Yung Yung was appointed Signal Custom Built as a home modifications beliefs. As reported by BlackXperience.com, the car is experiencing significant change. Changes are made to focus on strengthening the chassis and weight reduction by replacing the original body with carbon.
  Some parts are replaced carbon materials such as hood, grille, front and rear diffuser, side skirts, mirrors, fender mold 4 panel, the top of the rear trunk to the rear bumper. Completing the exterior changes can be visited applying wing Grand Touring, and the facelift headlights and rear wear Bixenon lapu R34 GTR.
Log into the inside of the cabin the feel of racing is very pronounced. Ornaments reinforcement presented a complete framework. Call it the anti roll front and rear ultra racing bar of ultra racing front and rear, stabilizer, anti-dive, strut tower bar to Sway ultra racing.
  In addition, maximizing the interior view of racing, seat wear Kevlar Carbon Bridge Stradia II Low Max, Takata 4 point seatbelt, an indicator of water pressure, water temperature and oil from Defi Red Racer, High Speed ​​Model Nismo speedometer, shift knob Nismo S-Tune EF500 Titanium, HKS turbo timer, custom 6 point roll cage.
  The legs reinforced wheels Volk Racing Nismo Edition 19-inch ring wrapped in Toyo Proxes T1R tires Race edition. Similarly bolt fasteners attached wheels and Bridgestone Volg Racing Duralumin NPG High Damper Coil Over Shock Kit Series. Braking is entrusted to its own brand Endless.
  Under the bonnet, the King relied engine RB25DET Tomei Genesis. A number of application kit to boost Performance was adopted, namely Tomei forged low compression pistons, valves (valve), as well as ex camsahft in 280 and 286 also outputs Tomei.
  Do not stop there still exists a series of changes including the engine application RX6 Apexi turbo kit, Apexi air filter, HKS Bloww off, HKS electronic idling Stabilizer, HKS Speed ​​Limit Defencer, Koyo radiator, intercooler piping Blitz, and Blitz Intercooler kit SE. Not excessive if the car is also able to record the numbers of 383.9 hp on the engine dyno.
  With a number of these changes, delivering the Nissan Skyline BNR-34 Checkpoint out as a modification of a nationwide contest winner with the title The King of Autoblackthrough 2011 which took place in Bandung some time ago.

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Status Pulsar 250 Still Question Mark

JAKARTA - Rumors about the Bajaj Pulsar 250's presence continues to grow. Many people who respond positively meluncurnya plans 250cc motorcycle with them. However, Brand sole agent (ATPM) PT Bajaj Auto Indonesia (BAI), still can not ensure the presence of Bajaj Pulsar 250.

PT BAI claims not yet received official information about the launch of Pulsar 250 Bajaj Auto center in Maharashtra, India.

"I can not give information about the planned release of Bajaj Pulsar 250. The reason is, we ourselves have not received official confirmation from the center. If I commented, then fear no mistake about data, "said Assistant Manager of Marketing & Public Relations of PT Bajaj Auto Indonesia (BAI), Rizal Tandju.

Rizal added, although already widely advocated on the release plan Bajaj Pulsar 250, so far BAI benarr not know and get confirmation of what the new variants that will be released in Indonesia.

Rumors Pulsar 250 is worth waiting for its presence. In India alone Pulsar 250 presented to counter the presence of the Honda CBR 250. Maybe the technology is still lagging behind CBR 250, view from the fuel system is still using carburetors.

Only, the Bajaj engine 250 is claimed capable of producing 26-30 horsepower. This is the largest in the 250cc class.

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New Suzuki SX4 Special Edition X-EC

LONDON - There are several ways for automakers to increase sales as consumer interest has decreased. One way is to launch a special edition. This is a used Suzuki SX4 in launching the X-EC. This special edition of the new crossover was unveiled in the UK.
 Named Suzuki SX4 X-EC, a new variant on SZ4 class will be set to go on sale at dealerships nationwide later this month. Suzuki SX4 X-EC release with a tag of 13,430 pounds or Rp183 million, plus the new metallic color.
  Special edition SX4 X-EC l give consumers the opportunity to select from three metallic colors (Galactic Grey, Cosmic Black Pearl and Pearl Cool White). While this is available in two-wheel drive format with gasoline engine 1.6-liter and 120PS manual transmission.
  The new model offers a comprehensive list of standard equipment, including color satellite navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, a unique design alloy wheels, electric mirrors can fold debgan integrated turn signal, glass for rear passengers and a new design on the seat.
  "The SX4 is a distinctive five-door hatchback that blends the characteristics of sporty compacts exemplified by the Swift. Lightweight SUVs such as the Grand Vitara, and made to create an attractive alternative from a small car," said Suzuki in a statement for release.
  The Euro 5 emissions, 1.6-liter gasoline engine, features variable valve timing with variable intake system for better response capability. Power 2WD SX4 with manual transmission can bulldoze from zero to 62 mph (0-100km/jam) in 10.7 seconds.

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